Kinshasa, April 20th, 2021 (CPA) – The outgoing Minister in charge of Health, Dr. Eteni Longondo, invited, on Monday, the people targeted as a priority to be vaccinated against Covid-19, during a ceremony marking the launch official vaccination against this pandemic in DRC, organized at the Kinshasa University Clinics (CUK), in Lemba municipality.
« Prioritize the vaccination of front-line health workers, people suffering from chronic diseases including hypertension and diabetes, as well as people aged 55 and over, » he said.
DRC, he informed, has expressed an expression of interest for access to vaccines and has developed a plan to support partners taking into account the orientations of the « Sage » and the recommendations of the advisory working group. on immunization in DRC.
The Minister in charge of Health stressed that in the current global context, getting vaccinated is more than a personal gesture, an act of public health, solidarity and charity towards the most vulnerable. It is a gesture of public safety for the suffering economies and a contribution to global health security.
For him, although the vaccine represents a hope in the fight against the Coronavirus disease, it is necessary to continue to respect and apply the approved public health measures in terms of prevention and control of the disease, namely, the wearing of the mask, hand hygiene and physical distancing.
He thanked the President of the Republic, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, for his personal commitment to defeat this pandemic in DRC, and the technical and financial partners for their support for the introduction of the vaccine against Covid-19 in DRC.
Minister Eteni Longondo also said he was confident of joining forces with the media and communication professionals to win the fight against disinformation and suspicion.
For his part, the dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Prof. Roger Mbungu Mwimba, thanked the Head of State for entrusting the management of this pandemic to Prof. Jean Jacques Muyembe for his know how.
He indicated that the launch of vaccination in this high place of knowledge is a symbol, because UNIKIN has lost 43 professors and several heads of work, before saluting the fight led by health professionals in the fight against Covid -19.
This ceremony was marked by the on-site vaccination of the outgoing Minister in charge of Health, the outgoing Deputy Minister in charge of Health, Albert Mpeti, the resident coordinator of the United Nations system in DRC, David Mc Lachlan-Karr and the national director expanded program on immunization (EPI), Dr. Elisabeth Mukamba. ACP /